Another outstanding display of course management saw SSP Chawrasia double his advantage at the top of the UBS Hong Kong leaderboard.
The Indian, whose game is perfectly suited to the intricate layout of the fabulous Hong Kong Golf Club, carded a four under par 66 in the second round to take a two shot lead over Thomas Aiken after the South African produced the low round of the week so far – a brilliant 64 to charge into contention.
The Swedish duo of Alexander Bjork and Joakim Lagergren were joined by American Julian Suri and Thailand’s Poom Saksansin in a share of third place on five under, while recently crowned Race to Dubai Number One Tommy Fleetwood and Olympic Champion Justin Rose are lurking at four and three under respectively.
Also among the chasing pack on four under par are the resurgent Welshman Jamie Donaldson and rising stars Dylan Frittelli of South Africa and Belgium’s Thomas Detry.
But perhaps the most compelling storyline at the top of the leaderboard is that of young American Micah Lauren Shin who, remarkably, only took up golf seven years ago and is enjoying a fantastic season on the Asian Tour.
The 20 year old, who was born in Washington and moved to the Philippines six years ago, came through Asian Tour Qualifying School at the beginning of the season and won his first event in his adopted homeland two weeks ago. Shin is also on four under par after opening scores of 67-69.
It will, however, be Chawrasia that the field will be aiming for in round three, with 48 players – including Masters Champion Sergio Garcia on level par – within nine strokes of the leader.
Player Quotes
S.S.P. Chawrasia: “It was a great round today. I was five-under at one time but then three-putted 14. I hit a good tee shot, good second shot to within 10 feet. My first putt went pass the hole by about three feet and I continued to miss from there. But still, it’s a good score. I’m happy. I think the greens are very fast here and a little bit windy, of course. That’s why I think the players are struggling. I’m just following my game plan. Same thing, I’m playing last two days, exactly the same strategy. I don’t want to change anything. I’m feeling more confident today than yesterday.”
Thomas Aiken: “There’s a lot of golf left. We’re only halfway there. Just keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully the putts keep going in and make a few extra ones and hopefully at the top of the leaderboard by Sunday afternoon. Otherwise, yeah, been enjoying my time here in Hong Kong. UBS have done a great job with the tournament as usual. I know it’s been a well-supported one field-wise over the years, and thank you to them again for hosting a great event. I’m sure there will be lots of crowds out there on the weekend. You know, just hopefully the season continues like this.”
Micah Lauren Shin: “The win in Manila was a confidence booster. But I still have to play well here as it’s a different tournament. I still need to work hard and try my best to try to finish well. I’ve been putting really well. I’m kind of disappointed with how I’m driving the ball right now but hopefully over the weekend, I can hit more fairways so that I can get more birdie chances.”
Justin Rose: “It wasn’t easy out there. The course is playing I think really firm right now because it’s really tricky. You miss greens, it’s very hard to get a ball up and down. The lies around the greens are very awkward. Obviously with the wind gusting, it was hard to hit greens early. Very hard to judge the ball in between the trees. I think it was very cold and windy early in my round. Love to have limited a couple of the mistakes, but overall I think it was kind of a fun round. Disappointed to drop five shots but at least I made six birdies. It wasn’t easy out there. But I feel like I’m in good position.”
Round two scores
131 S Chawrasia (Ind) 65 66,
133 T Aiken (RSA) 69 64,
135 A Björk (Swe) 69 66, P Saksansin (Tha) 67 68, J Lagergren (Swe) 69 66, J Suri (USA) 68 67,
136 M Shin (USA) 67 69, T Detry (Bel) 67 69, J Donaldson (Wal) 67 69, K Horne (RSA) 67 69, D Frittelli (RSA) 71 65, M Kinhult (Swe) 67 69, W Ormsby (Aus) 68 68, T Fleetwood (Eng) 68 68,
137 R Cabrera Bello (Esp) 69 68, J Rose (Eng) 68 69, J Morrison (Eng) 71 66, G Green (Mas) 69 68, C Hanson (Eng) 71 66, S Sharma (Ind) 66 71, L Haotong (Chn) 68 69,
138 P Peterson (USA) 70 68, K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 70 68, A Que (Phi) 67 71, E Molinari (Ita) 71 67,
139 P Waring (Eng) 71 68, D Chia (Mas) 68 71, M Jiménez (Esp) 70 69, Y Chang (Kor) 69 70, T Jaidee (Tha) 68 71, M Fitzpatrick (Eng) 66 73, G Havret (Fra) 69 70, S Crocker (USA) 69 70, R Khan (Ind) 71 68, C Pigem (Esp) 71 68, T Pilkadaris (Aus) 68 71, S Yongcharoenchai (Tha) 71 68,
140 P Oriol (Esp) 72 68, R Evans (Eng) 71 69, H Varner Iii (USA) 69 71, S Brazel (Aus) 69 71, S Hend (Aus) 73 67, W Lin (Tpe) 69 71, S Garcia (Esp) 69 71, R Karlsson (Swe) 72 68,
141 B Leong (Mas) 70 71, M Manassero (Ita) 72 69, S Rahman (Ban) 70 71, J Choi (Kor) 69 72, C Paisley (Eng) 71 70, S Chien (USA) 72 69, C Hung (Tpe) 72 69, A Chesters (Eng) 71 70, R Wannasrichan (Tha) 72 69, H Tanihara (Jpn) 72 69,
142 P Pittayarat (Tha) 73 69, M Kumar (Ind) 72 70, N Bertasio (Ita) 73 69, S Brown (Eng) 72 70, W Ashun (Chn) 74 68, B Neil (Sco) 71 71, C Sordet (Fra) 71 71, S Barr (Aus) 75 67, R Rock (Eng) 69 73, A Da Silva (Bra) 70 72, R Gouveia (Por) 70 72, P Dunne (Irl) 71 71, L Wenchong (Chn) 71 71, L D’Souza (am) (Hkg) 72 70,
143 J Janewattananond (Tha) 72 71, M Tabuena (Phi) 70 73, S Vincent (Zim) 71 72, K Joshi (Ind) 69 74, P Widegren (Swe) 72 71, S Kapur (Ind) 70 73, P Swangarunporn (Tha) 72 71, A Cañizares (Esp) 73 70, L Jensen (Den) 73 70, E Van Rooyen (RSA) 71 72, C Koepka (USA) 71 72, S Kooratanapisan (Tha) 70 73,
144 S Lee (Kor) 75 69, P Meesawat (Tha) 74 70, W Lu (Tpe) 73 71, P Tangkamolprasert (Tha) 73 71, J Singh (Ind) 72 72, P Khongwatmai (Tha) 71 73, N Srithong (Tha) 71 73, O Farr (Wal) 69 75, G Bhullar (Ind) 74 70, C S (Ind) 73 71, C Kumar (Ind) 74 70, D Howell (Eng) 75 69, J Kruger (RSA) 71 73,
145 J Randhawa (Ind) 72 73, J Wang (Kor) 71 74, D Im (USA) 72 73, C O’Toole (USA) 73 72, A Atwal (Ind) 74 71, M Fraser (Aus) 70 75, S Fernandez (Esp) 75 70, D Lipsky (USA) 75 70, T Wiratchant (Tha) 73 72, J Colomo (Esp) 77 68,
146 Z Lianwei (Chn) 74 72, D Brooks (Eng) 80 66, T Sinnott (Aus) 71 75, D Boonma (Tha) 70 76, A Rai (Eng) 73 73, G Bourdy (Fra) 75 71, A Kang (USA) 74 72,
147 J Dantorp (Swe) 77 70, L Weber (Fra) 72 75, D Drysdale (Sco) 73 74, A Lascuna (Phi) 73 74, J Veerman (USA) 74 73,
148 A Connelly (Can) 75 73, O Fisher (Eng) 72 76, M Mamat (Sin) 72 76, S Chan (Tpe) 75 73,
149 N Fung (Mas) 75 74, R Gangjee (Ind) 75 74,
150 A Plant (Eng) 77 73,
151 J Campillo (Esp) 76 75, J Stewart (Hkg) 76 75, T Kho (am) (Hkg) 76 75,
152 T Pulkkanen (Fin) 77 75,
153 M Cheung (am) (Hkg) 75 78,
155 J Shou (am) (Sin) 79 76,
156 W Wong (Hkg) 78 78,
160 T Kaewsiribandit (Tha) 82 78,
** R Lee (Can) 80 WD,
